Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative

ITU Regional Workshop for the CIS countries “Organizational and Technical Development of the ICT”

23-25 September 2015 ONAT, Odessa, Ukraine

Thomas Barmueller, Director EMEA Mobile Manufacturers Forum

About MMF

International non-profit association with scientific purpose of telecommunications equipment manufacturers with an interest in the safety of mobile or wireless communications, focusing on:

MMF Members: Alcatel Mobile Phones, Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, Motorola Solutions, Samsung, Sony (+ companies participating in one or more of MMF’s initiatives)

GARI stands for …

• Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative

• 1,100+ models and all world regions • centralised source of information • ~ 200 accessibility related apps

• consumer guidance & producer reporting

tool

• 14 written languages + 1 sign language (ASL)

UNCRPD

UN Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities, Article 9 – Accessibility: ... enable persons with disabilities to live

independently and participate fully in all aspects of life.

... to promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet.

(Ukraine: Signature: 2008, Ratification/Accession: 2010)

http://indicators ohchr org

Many say

technologies make things easier, for people with disabilities technologies

make things possible.

Knut Ellingsen, Vice-President of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing (EFHOH), Zero Project Conference, 27-28 February 2014,

Vienna, Austria

Why GARI?

Why GARI?

The next billion to get mobile could be the global community of persons

with disabilities.

d

Mobile World Congress 2015

help consumers finding devices

with the accessibility features that work best for them

GARI’s purpose

Find accessible mobiles

Accessible mobiles and apps

Accessible mobiles and apps

Mobile accessibility is about …

• hardware: 2-way camera, Adapt Sound, increased max volume, …

• software: screen readers, loop function,

captioning, … • 3rd party apps: sign language dictionary,

speech-to-text, crowed sourced help …

Mobile accessibility is about …

• hardware: 2-way camera, Adapt Sound, increased max volume, …

• software: screen readers, loop function,

captioning, … • 3rd party apps: sign language dictionary,

speech-to-text, crowed sourced help …

Apps: Accessible? Assistive?

• Accessible: designed according to accessibility guidelines for user interfaces so that people with a range of physical or mental capabilities can operate the software successfully

• Assistive: helps people with particular impairments overcome limiting consequences of a disability (e.g., identifying paper currency to a blind person, facilitating direct sign language communication for a deaf person, inputting text from dictation by someone with a dexterity impairment, or giving reminders to someone with a cognitive disability) https://www.fcc.gov/blog/mobile-accessibility-and-employment-people-disabilities

Why are apps so important ?

Mobile overtakes desktop

http://www.smartinsights.com/internet-marketing-statistics/insights-from-kpcb-us-and-global-internet-trends-2015-report/attachment/mobile-internet-trends-mary-meeker-2015-1/

Source: Flurry Analytics

GARI long-term objective

• MMF offers and requests cooperation in order to establish:

• one global database for accessibility requirements in all markets

• centralised platform on mobile accessibility

• promotion of mobile accessibility • consumer guidance & reporting tool • platform for exchange of information

between stakeholders

We don’t stop here !

New GARI section: Accessible SmartTVs

New section: SmartTVs

Accessibility features of Smart TVs

• 57 accessibility features • New GARI features:

• voice control for accessing features • remote control learning mode • independent volume control for speaker &

headset • supports audio description for broadcast video

• Status: • database is ready • first models have been uploaded • Nov 2015: available in EN, FR, DE; more to

follow

GARI benefits

• Consumers: a comprehensive searchable database of devices and features in multiple languages

• Governments: accessibility feature set that is far more extensive than any countries’ existing list of requirements

• Manufacturers: report it once – have it accepted everywhere

Benefits for manufacturers

• reporting tool (Australia, USA, …)

• community consultation • stakeholder consultation record • operators accept GARI product

reports

• statistics & targeted marketing • social media announcements

• regulators, OPW*, caregivers,

occupational therapists, etc use GARI * Organisations of Persons with Disabilities

Participate in GARI

• product by product basis

• 1 product displayed for 2 years

• full participation in GARI + AWG

• unlimited number of devices in the database • yearly feature review • participation in regulatory work and research activities • standards and research updates • communication and promotion • stakeholder relationships

• Twitter: @GARIupdates

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MobileAccessibility

• GARI blog: http://blog.mobileaccessibility.info

Michael Milligan, Secretary General michael.milligan@mmfai.info

Thomas Barmüller, Director EMEA

thomas.barmueller@mmfai.info

Sabine Lobnig, Communication & Regulatory Officer sabine.lobnig@mmfai.info

f i i f | i i f

Get in touch with us

Thank you. Further Information needed?

Since December 2006: MMF’s Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa and responsible for the co-ordination of the association’s activities in the region. 2000 – 2006: Forum Mobilkommunikation (Austrian national trade organisation, Managing Director) 1990 – 1999: Member of the Austrian Parliament, focused on infrastructure issues, telecommunication and environment He graduated as Master of Laws at the University of Graz, Austria.

Thomas Barmüller thomas.barmueller@mmfai.info

+43 (664) 386 51 23 Bergbosstraat 115

9820 Merelbeke, Belgium www.mmfai.org